Categories & Entries
The official deadline for entries into the Football Business Awards has now passed, however submissions are still being accepted in most categories until the end of February 2021. If you wish to enter then please complete this form.
To enter the awards please select the relevant category below and submit your entry. The entry fee is £275 plus VAT per category which must be paid before the finalists are announced.
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NEW Best Covid 19 Community Response
The Coronavirus pandemic has clearly demonstrated the importance of clubs’ roles in the lives of their communities and fanbases. This award will recognise outstanding work undertaken by a club to support its communities during the pandemic.
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NEW Best Covid -19 Response – Staff / Player Welfare
During the coronavirus pandemic clubs have had to respond quickly and effectively to ensure staff and player health and well-being. This award will recognise work that safe-guards club employees and/or players for in terms of physical and mental well-being and welfare.
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NEW Best Advertisement Involving Football
Whether promoting the game itself, an individual club or a non-related product that wants to associate itself with football, film and images of the game, players, clubs and fans are regularly part of tv, print and digital advertising. Submit your best creatives involving football to demonstrate how the beautiful game effectively engages audiences.
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NEW Best New Player / Contract Signing Reveal Campaign
Clubs have become increasingly creative and digitally aware when it comes to communicating new player signings or contract renewals. This award celebrates that creativity. It might be a video, a photograph or a social media campaign. This is an opportunity to submit the creative work itself for the judges to review
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NEW Best Digital / Social Media Team
Digital and social are now central to the marketing mix for every football club. Whether communicating with fans or helping to engage with new ones the need to combine technical know-how with creative and effective messaging has never been more important. This award recognises the collective efforts of Digital and/or Social Media teams.
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Innovation Award
Football never stands still and its ability to adapt to a changing world is a key to its success. This award recognises the change-makers; those who disrupt and challenge; those who invent and create. This award recognises innovation which stays true to the spirit and traditions of the game but nevertheless helps take football into the future.
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Best Football Community Scheme
This award is open to club community schemes and organisations in the community which work with clubs. The judges will be looking for clear commitment to the local community, its people and business. Innovative approaches and measurable outcomes should be presented within the entry. This category may be split up into different categories for teams in or outside the premiership based on the number of entrants.
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Sponsorship / Partnership of the Year
The judges will be looking for examples of partnerships in the wider world of football which create meaningful value for both parties. Any form of commercial partnership could qualify for this category provided it demonstrates clear ROI for the partners and creative thinking.
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Best Brand Activation Involving Football
Football is at the heart of a myriad of marketing campaigns. This award recognises the best use of football in any of its guises as a component in brand activation. Whether advertising, PR, experiential or digital brands can use football to connect to the hearts and minds of customers. Entrants will need to demonstrate creativity, authenticity and of course great ROI. Open to brands and agencies.
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Best Fan Engagement by Club
This is an award for the club which engages best with its fans. Entrants should show evidence of creativity in how they interact and get the fans involved. Judges will be looking for strong results and authenticity in their communications, plus strong feedback from fans.
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Best Use of Technology in a Football Club
This award should be entered by any club using technology in a compelling and interesting way. The entry should demonstrate how the technology has a measurable impact on customer experience or commercial profitability.
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Best Corporate Social Responsibility Scheme
This award is open to clubs, associations, companies, brands and organisations involved in football who can demonstrate the positive impact their CSR activities have had on the environment, fans, employees, communities and other stakeholders.
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Best Use of Technology in Football (not club specific)
This award should be entered by any club or company using technology in a compelling and interesting way. The entry should demonstrate how the technology has a measurable impact on customer experience or commercial profitability.
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Best Club Marketing Initiative – non Premier League
This award is for a particular marketing initiative by a club outside of the Premier League. The judges will be looking for well implemented innovative ideas, and clear evidence that the initiative achieved its desired outcomes. Creativity and performance against available targets will be taken into account. Entries can come from clubs or their marketing and advertising agencies.
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Best Club Marketing Initiative – Premier League
This award is for a particular marketing initiative by a club in the Premier League. The judges will be looking for well implemented innovative ideas, and clear evidence that the initiative achieved its desired outcomes. Creativity and performance against available targets will be taken into account. Entries can come from clubs or their marketing and advertising agencies.
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Best Business Serving Football – over £2m turnover (non professional service)
This award will be open to any company connected to football which had a turnover in its last financial year of over £2 million. Judges will be looking for sustained excellence of service delivery and product innovation and strong customer feedback.
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Best Business Serving Football – up to £2m turnover (non professional service)
This award will be open to any small business connected to football which had a turnover in its last financial year of less than £2 million. Judges will be looking for sustained excellence of service delivery and product innovation and strong customer feedback.
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Agency of the Year
Football is now firmly part of the media and marketing world. The agency of the year category recognises the increasing role of Marcoms agencies in football and will be awarded to a business offering Advertising, PR, Design, Social & Digital Media or other forms of promotional marketing. The agency can work for client football clubs, brands or businesses working in football and while individual projects can be included in the entry it should be noted that this award recognises the overall commitment to and understanding of football demonstrated by the agency. The judges will be looking for creativity, insight and clearly defined client outcomes.
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Best Professional Service Business Serving Football
Open to law firms, accountants, architects and other professional service providers. Entrants to this award should demonstrate a clear commitment to and understanding of the business of football. Evidence will be required to show how that knowledge has been applied to achieve better commercial performance for clients in football.
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Best in Football Media
In the digital age the breadth of media working with and serving football (and all sports) is greater than ever before. This award could go to a club, a media owner, an individual publication, website, newspaper or TV programme. The recipient will have demonstrated a focus on football and engagement with their audience.
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